“My Chicago”: ABA/TIPS Annual Meeting, August 2–7, 2018

You may have heard about the lake breeze that cools the city for portions of the year, but in early August the weather should be warm and hopefully pleasant. Never been to the beach in the Midwest? This will be your chance. Head out to North Avenue Beach or Oak Street Beach, both close to downtown. Be prepared for the crowds, but it will be worth it for those who have not yet experienced Lake Michigan in the summertime.

The Willis Tower (formerly known as the Sears Tower), 875 North Michigan Ave. (formerly known as the John Hancock Center), Navy Pier, and Millennium Park are all worth visiting. Grant Park is hosting Lollapalooza, a world-famous four-day music festival, happening August 2–5. This year, Lollapalooza headliners will include Bruno Mars, Arctic Monkeys, Jack White, and The Weeknd. There are too many impressive museums in Chicago to list, but pick any one, from the renowned Art Institute of Chicago to the Field Museum of Natural History and the very family friendly Museum of Science and Industry, and you will not regret your visit.

Looking for something less touristy? Visit one of Chicago’s many unique neighborhoods. While the downtown “loop” area is great, Chicago would not be the city that it is without neighborhoods like Old Town, Wicker Park, Logan Square, and Bucktown, just to name a few that are relatively close to the downtown area where the meeting will take place. A taxi or Uber ride will be cheap enough to get you anywhere you need to go, but if you are feeling adventurous, try using the well-known “L” (a now-official name, originally short for “elevated”), which is the train system serving Chicago and some of its surrounding suburbs.

For runners, bikers, walkers, and outdoor lovers, do not miss an opportunity to enjoy the Lakefront Trail, an impressive 18-mile-long paved path along Lake Michigan that provides gorgeous views of the skyline, boat harbors, Soldier Field (home of the Chicago Bears), and beaches. Travel north or south on the trail; you will be impressed by what you see in either direction. Chicago also is known for its world-class restaurants. Some of my favorites that serve our famous deep-dish pizza include Lou Malnati’s, Giordano’s, Gino’s East, and Pizzeria Uno & Pizzeria Due.

On a final note, a rare occurrence is happening in Chicago during the Annual Meeting. The Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox will be in town on the same date, Thursday, August 2. The White Sox play the Royals at 1:10 p.m. at Guaranteed Rate Field, and the Cubs play the Padres at 7:05 p.m. at Wrigley Field. For baseball lovers, try to catch one or both games in-between meetings. Not many cities offer the opportunity to catch major league baseball in two different ballparks on the same day! The “L” Red Line will conveniently transport you to both stadiums. For those not heading to the two beautiful ballparks, be prepared for increased traffic that Thursday. Let’s be honest: be prepared for increased traffic during your entire visit. As long as you give yourself plenty of time to get from place to place, I promise that you will understand why so many call Chicago the greatest city in the world.